Got the keys to new home found damp!

[Pink700]

We got the keys to our new home on Thursday and have been stripping the walls in all the rooms we have found damp in the bay window in the living room, wallpaper pealed off wall feels wet to touch, a home buyers report was done no damp found in that, should the seller have to fix this or is it out problem now? ??

[NovemberRainbow]

Don't think the seller has any obligation to do anything sadly.

Which walls are damp? Is it every room? Internal walls as well as the outside facing? What condition are the gutters and roof?

It may be easy to rectify, the first step is to find out the cause.

Keep the house as well ventilated and warm, to try and dry it out.

[Pink700]

It's only in the livingroom at the bay window underneath and around not at the floor tho, when I looked outside it looks like there has been a crack round the window that's been fixed, who would we get to fix this for us? Thank you

[Bowlersarm]

Its nothing to do with the seller now.

You could try going back to the surveyor, but doubt you'll get very far as you didn't have a full survey.

[Bowlersarm]

You could get a damp specialist round to have a look?

[elfycat]

Look outside and check the soil level isn't above the damp-course bridging it in effect. One of the simplest things to correct (as we did). After that I'd be calling in a specialist.

[GalaxyInMyPants]

Isn't a home buyers report the basic one? I think you need a full survey to have any hope of come back.

We paid for the middle survey and then found big problems with our chimneys and were told we couldn't blame the surveyor.

[specialsubject]

nothing to do with the seller now. It was your responsibility to have the house properly checked over. Surveyors aren't brilliant and their association covers their backs whatever they do, - but you could go back to the surveyor with the query. They may also be able to recommend someone who could fix the window.

also it is quite humid and there has been heavy rain.

[PigletJohn]

bay window, probably it has a little roof that is leaking. Ask around for an experienced local roofer. Might need lead flashing. Avoid felt or mortar patching.

Not an itinerant in a white van with just a mobile phone. Someone with a local landline number and a local address that you can look at.

Preferably not someone who just does flat roofs, some of them are fine but for some reason it tends to attract others.

[Pink700]

I've got someone comin round tomoro to have a look, it's only just under the window sill and up the sides a little you can see where is been patched b4, it's not all the way down the wall or at the top of the window thanks for all the advice

[treesntrees]

Check the drip channel of the outside window sill isn't blocked. You can find it by feeling underneath the window sill. If it is blocked it will allow rain water to run down onto the wall under the window. It is fairly easy to clean out.

[MildDrPepperAddiction]

Go back to the surveyor. The should have been lucked up in a home buyers report.
Maybe contact RICS for guidance.

[Ohanarama]

Definitely go back to surveyor - even with home buyer's report they should have used damp meter which can detect non visible dampness. They are insured to cover cost of being liable for a claim such as yours.

[Pink700]

I've called my solicitor and she's goin to speak to the sellers solicitor and get back to me, it does say in the repost they used a damp meter but no dap was found

[specialsubject]

why the solicitor? It is the surveyor that you need to speak to if anyone.